Community Participation and Completion of National Government Constituency Development Funded Projects in Marakwet West Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya

Abstract

The introduction of national government constituency development funded projects in every constituency in Kenya was aimed at spreading development to all areas of the country. The community being the recipients of these projects was supposed to take the center stage. However, this has not been the case as many NG-CDF funded projects have taken long to be completed. This research was conducted to investigate the impact of community engagement on the successful implementation of government-funded projects in Marakwet West Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. The research aimed to achieve the following objectives: to9 examine9 the9 influence9 of9 community9 participation9 in9 needs9 analysis9 on9 the9 completion9 of9 NG-CDF9 funded9 projects9 in9 Marakwet9 West9 Constituency, Elgeyo9 Marakwet9County, Kenya; to9 determine9 the9 influence9 of9 community9 participation9 in9 project9 planning9 on9 the9 completion9 of9 NG-CDF9 funded9 projects9 in9 Marakwet9 West9Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya; to9 assess9 the9 influence9 of9 community9 participation9 in9 project9 implementation9 on9 the9 completion9 of9 NG-CDF9 funded9 projects9 in9 Marakwet9 West9Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya and9 to9 analyze9 the9 influence9 of9 community9 participation9 in9project9 monitoring9 and9 evaluation9 on9 the9 completion9 of9 NG-CDF9 funded9 projects9 in9 Marakwet9 West9Constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. Stakeholder theory, Agency theory and General System’s theory were adopted by this study. This study employed a descriptive research design. The unit of analysis of this study was Project Management Committee members of the seventy NG-CDF-funded projects and 10 members of the NG-CDF committee of Marakwet West Constituency. The study targeted 360 respondents. A sample of 189 was selected through stratified random sampling method. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SPSS software was used to analyze the collected data. This study found out that community participation played an important part in the completion of national government constituency development funded projects in Marakwet west constituency, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. This study recommends that Project Management Committee of NG-CDF funded projects in every constituency should involve the community from the early stages of needs analysis for NG-CDF funded projects, empower community members with knowledge and skills related to project planning, conduct workshops and training sessions to familiarize community members with the planning process, budgeting, and other relevant aspects to ensure informed participation, establish community committees to actively participate in project implementation, and develop a clear framework that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the community in the monitoring and evaluation process.